"I am simple, how do you say?"

(Deep breath) I don’t know how to answer. For my life, what makes me happy? The first thing that makes me happy, is to put a ring and that I’m going to be stay with someone. Not my cousin, not my friend. I want to stay with someone. First my girlfriend, then she become my wife. After that, to play and have children. I’m happy right now I’m working, I’m happy. I don’t drink, maybe sometimes I might try to drink. I don’t really drink. Sometimes, I smoke if it’s cold, only one or two cigarettes. But if there is too much stress or too much thinking, I just smoke some weed. Not every day, just when I have problems.

ME: So all of these things make you happy? Anything else?
You ask me this question, and I want to tell you that I love you. But maybe I should just say I like you. I want to be your friend. But if, if something happens, I would like it.

ME: I'm flattered, but I'm not really looking for a long distance boyfriend. But you're very in touch with your emotions, that's rare.

I have worked here for three years, I see every kind of traveler from Nigeria, Australia, America, I just feel in me that if there is some connection then I must tell you. I cannot hold it in. That’s why I love it here in South Africa. I speak French, I am a French man. I’m just here to pay rent, save some in the bank and see the World Cup. My family has money in the Congo, but I just wanted to come here. So I like working here. I learn a lot, I meet a lot of people. Five days a week, I am here. Monday and Tuesday are my only days to sleep. But I like it. I learned English here. I didn’t take classes, I didn’t have the money, but I learned here by working and working. When I am home, I like to play Sega and Nintendo or I go to the park. I don’t have a lot of friends here in South Africa, it’s just the managers here and the crew who works here. Some of my friends from the DRC are here, so I will see them. I am simple, how do you say?"


-Doudou, hostel evening shift worker in Cape Town from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 21 years old.